A trailer hitch assembly for connecting a towing vehicle to a towed trailer having symmetrical anti-sway features. The assembly includes a hitch ball rigidly affixed to a hitch beam extending transversely from the rear of the towing vehicle. A pair of spring-biased telescopic compressible and extendable control rods are connected to each end of the hitch beam and at their other ends to a control beam. A hitch bar is connected to the hitch ball on the towing vehicle and pivotally connected to the forward end of a trailer coupler that intersects and is pivotally connected to the central portion of the control beam by a pivot member. The pivot member is integral with the control beam and includes a control arm having a roller engaged with a downwardly opening slotted rearward end of the hitch bar. The trailer coupler includes a trailer hitch ball to which a trailer coupler socket is connected, with the trailer coupler socket being rigidly affixed to the tongue or frame of the towed vehicle.
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31. A hitch assembly for articulately connecting a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle which comprises a hitch beam rigidly connected to the towing vehicle, a hitch bar universally connected to said hitch beam, a pair of telescopic spring biased control rods universally connected at front ends to said hitch beam at either side of said hitch bar connection, a control beam universally interconnecting rearward ends of said control rods, and a trailer coupler pivotally connected to said control beam intermediate said rearward ends of said control rods and including a trailer hitch ball for universal pivotal connection with said towed vehicle.
14. A hitch assembly for articulately connecting a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle, comprising:
a hitch beam for attachment to the towing vehicle, said hitch beam having a hitch ball; a control beam having a left end with a left integral pivot point, a right end with a right integral pivot point, and a central portion; an intermediate bar having a forward end and a rearward end and a hitch ball socket at said forward end for connection to said hitch ball for universal pivot connection with said hitch ball; a pair of compressible and extendable control rods with said intermediate bar interposed between, each of said control rods having a forward end pivotally connected to said hitch beam, and a rear end pivotally connected to said control beam; a trailer coupler having a forward end and a rearward end, said trailer coupler pivotally connected to said intermediate bar and to said central portion of said control beam by a pivotal connecting beam, wherein said trailer coupler extends forward and rearward of said control beam, and wherein said rearward end of said trailer coupler is provided with a trailer hitch ball engaged by a trailer socket coupler; wherein when said towing vehicle turns, said pair of control rods compress and extend oppositely, and said control beam, said intermediate bar, and said pivotal connecting beam cooperatively pivot to moderate and decrease the effect of the turning motion of the towing vehicle on the towed vehicle.
22. In combination, a towing vehicle, a towed vehicle and a hitch assembly articulately interconnecting the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, said towing vehicle including a hitch ball fixedly mounted on a rearward end portion thereof, a hitch bar connected to said hitch ball for universal pivotal movement relative thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom, said towed vehicle including a rigid forwardly extending tongue having a hitch ball socket mounted thereon, said hitch assembly including a longitudinally extending coupler having a rearward end portion and a forward end portion, said rearward end portion of said coupler having a hitch ball fixedly mounted thereon and connected to said hitch socket on said tongue on the towed vehicle for universal pivotal movement relative thereto, said forward end portion of said coupler overlapping a rearward end portion of said hitch bar, a pivotal connection between said rearward end portion of said hitch bar and said forward end portion of said coupler for relative movement about a generally vertical axis and articulately interconnecting the towing vehicle and towed vehicle, and a linkage system interconnecting the towed vehicle and said rearward end portion of said hitch bar to control relative pivotal movement between said rearward end portion of said hitch bar and said forward end portion of said coupler about the vertical axis of said pivotal connection lateral directions during relative pivotal movement between the towing vehicle and towed vehicle.
15. A trailer hitch assembly for articulately connecting a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, comprising:
a hitch beam extending laterally and rigidly at the rear of a towing vehicle and having a central portion and outer ends; a hitch ball centrally located on said hitch beam; a hitch bar having a forward end and a rearward end, and a hitch ball socket at said forward end thereof universally pivotally connected to said hitch ball on said hitch beam; a pair of telescopic spring biased control rods universally to outer end portions of said hitch beam, said control rods having forward and rearward ends; a control beam interconnecting said rearward ends of said control rods, said control beam having a central portion and outer ends; and a trailer coupler pivotally connected to a central portion of said hitch beam, said trailer coupler including a trailer hitch ball for universal pivotal connection with the towed vehicle, said trailer coupler having a forward end connected to said hitch bar by a pivotal connection at a forward end of said trailer coupler and by a longitudinally movable pivotal connection intermediate the pivotal connection with the hitch bar and the pivotal connection with the control beam, said control beam being oriented in parallel relation to the hitch beam when the vehicles are moving in a straight line path, said control beam in response to pivotal movement of the hitch beam to shift the articulate connection between the trailer coupler and hitch bar laterally in a direction inwardly of the radius of hitch balls when a towing vehicle is steered in a path.
1. An anti-sway trailer hitch assembly (10) for articulately connecting a towing vehicle (12) to a towed vehicle (14), comprising:
a hitch beam (32) for attachment to the towing vehicle, said hitch beam having a hitch ball (34), a left end (32a) having a first integral pivot point (33a), and a right end (32b) having a second integral pivot point (33b); a control beam (60) having a left end (60a) with a left integral pivot point (61a), a right end (60b) with a right integral pivot point (61b), and a central portion (60c), an intermediate bar (35) having a forward end (35a) and a rearward end (35b) and a hitch ball socket (38) at said forward end for connection to said hitch ball (34) for universal pivot connection with said hitch ball; a pair of compressible and extendable control rods (44) having a forward end (45a) and a rear end (45b), one of said control rods connected at its forward end to one end of said hitch beam by a universal, detachable connection (46), the other of said control rods connected at its forward end to the opposite end of said hitch beam by a universal, detachable connection (46), each of said control rods (44) having a rear end (45b) pivotally connected to said control beam (60) by universal detachable connection (62); a trailer coupler (64) having a forward end (64a) and a rearward end (64b), said trailer coupler pivotally connected to said intermediate bar (35) and to said central portion (60c) of said control beam (60) by a pivotal connecting beam (66), wherein said trailer coupler extends forward and rearward of said control beam, and wherein said rearward end of said trailer coupler is provided with a trailer hitch ball (68) engaged by a trailer socket coupler (30).
13. An anti-sway trailer hitch (10) for articulately connecting a towing vehicle (12) having a frame (16) and a towed vehicle (14), wherein the forward end of the towed vehicle (14) includes a tongue or frame structure (28) that extends forward and includes a trailer socket coupler (30), said anti-sway trailer hitch comprising:
a hitch beam (32) extending transversely at the rear of the towing vehicle and rigidly affixed to the frame (16), said hitch beam having a hitch ball (34), a left end (32a) having a first integral pivot point (33a), and a right end (32b) having a second integral pivot point (33b); an intermediate bar (35) having a forward end (35a) and a rearward end (35b) and a hitch ball socket (38) at said forward end for connection to said hitch ball (34) for universal pivot connection with said hitch ball; a first control rod (44a) having a forward end and a rear end, and a second control rod (44b) having a forward end and a rear end, one each connected to said left and rights ends of said hitch beam by a universal, detachable connection (46), each of said control rods having a forward end (45a) and a rear end (45b); a control beam (60) having a left end (60a) with a left integral pivot point (61a), a right end (60b) with a right integral pivot point (61b), and a central portion (60c), said control beam connected to said rear end (45b) of said control rods (44) by universal detachable connections (62); a trailer coupler (64) having a forward end (64a) and a rearward end (64b), said trailer coupler pivotally connected to said intermediate bar (35) and to said central portion (60c) of said control beam (60) by a pivotal connecting beam (66), wherein said trailer coupler extends forward and rearward of said control beam, and wherein said rearward end of said trailer coupler is provided with a trailer hitch ball (68) engaged by said trailer socket coupler (30).
2. The hitch assembly of
a hitch bar (36); and a hitch bar extension (40) detachably connected to said hitch bar (36) by at least one fastener (42).
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Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to trailer hitches, and more particularly to an improved anti-sway trailer hitch.
2. Discussion of Related Art
The vast majority of passenger vehicles include rear substantial area of mass which projects rearward from the back wheels of the vehicle. Trailer hitches are constructed such that the forward tongue portion of a trailer towed behind such vehicles is coupled to the vehicle at a point slightly rearward of the rear bumper of the vehicle. Even a slight right and left lateral shifting of the forward end of the towing vehicle results in concomitant left and right lateral shifting of the forward end of the trailer. This feature of a passenger vehicle trailer towing can be very dangerous, particularly if the trailer is improperly loaded such that the gross load of the trailer has a center of gravity disposed forward of the wheels of the trailer. The problem is evn more pronounced when the towed trailer has a large side elevational area upon which crosswind gusts and slip stream blasts may act.
Accordingly, a need exists for a trailer hitch connection between a vehicle and a trailer that will eliminate the sway tendencies of the vehicle and trailer combination as a result of slight lateral shifting of the forward end of the towing vehicle. Various solutions to the problem of trailer sway have been proposed, and anti-sway trailer hitches that include at least some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,201,660, 2,913,256, 3,254,905, 3,785,680, 3,787,077 and 3,825,282.
The most closely related improvement in anti-sway trailer hitch assemblies was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,337, by the present inventor. The '337 patent teaches an anti-sway trailer hitch constructed in a manner whereby slight lateral deflections to the right and left by the front end of a towing vehicle will not be directly transmitted to the trailing vehicle in the form of left and right lateral swaying movements. The inventive anti-sway trailer hitch is relatively simple, including only three major components other than the usual forward-projecting trailer tongue assembly and may therefore be readily incorporated into the manufacture of new trailers and trailer hitches as well as retrofitted to existing trailers and trailer hitches. Specifically, the hitch construction includes an elongated hitch bar, first connecting means pivotally attaching one end of the bar to the rear towing portion of said vehicle, means pivotally anchoring an intermediate length portion of the bar to the forward portion of the trailing vehicle for angular displacement of the hitch bar about a first upstanding axis relative to the forward portion, a control member pivotally supported from the forward portion of the trailing vehicle for angular displacement about a second upstanding axis spaced rearward of the first axis, second connecting means pivotally and slidably connecting the other end of the bar to the control member at a point spaced forward of the second axis, control means connected between the rear portion and the control member, wherein the control means includes an elongated link, means pivotally connecting one end of the link to the rear portion for angular displacement about a third upstanding axis spaced to one lateral side of the first connecting means, and means pivotally connecting the other end of the link to the control member for angular displacement about a fourth upstanding axis spaced to the same lateral side of the second axis.
The inventive hitch assembly taught in the '337 patent provides an anti-sway trailer hitch which may be utilized to couple a trailer to a towing vehicle in a manner such that slight lateral left and right movements of the forward end of the towing vehicle will not be transferred into lateral left and right movements, respectively, of the forward end of the towing vehicle. It also provides a hitch that may be readily retrofitted to existing trailer hitches and trailers; that provides an adjustment feature enabling adjustment of the anti-sway action of the hitch in accordance with the gross load represented by the associated trailer; and that provides an anti-sway trailer hitch made in the conventional forms of manufacture, is of simple construction and is easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
The hitch assembly of the present invention connects a rear wheel drive-towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The forward end of the trailer is provided with a tongue or frame structure that extends forward and includes a trailer socket coupler. The hitch assembly includes a hitch beam extending transversely at the rear of the towing vehicle and rigidly affixed to the frame. The hitch beam has pivots points at each of its ends. The center of the hitch beam includes a towing vehicle hitch ball to which is connected an intermediate bar having a forward end and a rearward end, and includes a hitch bar having a hitch ball socket at the forward end for pivotal connection with the hitch ball. A hitch bar extension is detachably connected to the hitch bar.
A pair of compressible and extendable control rods are connected to opposite ends of the hitch beam by a detachable connection. The control rods have a forward end and a rear end and preferably comprise a first spring-biased control rod and a second spring-biased control rod. Each control rod includes a tubular sleeve having a forward end with a rod adjustably and threadbly affixed, and the rod can be adjusted in relation to tubular sleeve to accommodate different lengths of hitch bar and extension. The rear end of the tubular sleeve receives a movable rod with a coiled compression spring engaging an end flange on the tubular sleeve.
The rear end of the control rods are connected by a universal detachable connections to a control beam having ends and a central portion. The control beam between rod connections is preferably longer than the hitch beam between connections at the forward ends of the control rods.
A trailer coupler is pivotally connected to the central portion of the control beam. The coupler extends forward and rearward of the control beam, and the rearward end of the coupler is provided with a trailer hitch ball engaged by the trailer socket coupler. The pivotal connection includes a laterally extending arm at the upper end thereof, the arm being rigid with the control beam and pivotal in relation to the trailer coupler. The forward end of the trailer coupler has a pivotal connection that extends through the forward end of the trailer coupler and rearward portion of the hitch bar extension.
The pivotal movement between the trailer coupler and hitch bar extension is controlled by a roller rotatably journalled on a pin extending upwardly from the forward end of the arm and through a rotatable sleeve interposed between the upper surface of the arm and the lower end of the roller. The forward end of the arm is received within a downwardly opening slot in the rearward end portion of the hitch bar extension. The roller is located intermediate the pivot axis defined by the pivot bolt and the pivot connection forming the pivotal connection between the control beam and the trailer coupler. Accordingly, the pivotal movement of the hitch bar extension, the trailer coupler, and the control beam is controlled by the arm and the roller engaged in the slot.
When the towing vehicle turns, one end of the hitch beam exerts a pulling force on its correspondingly connected control rod, which through a rearward connection pulls on the same side of the control beam. The other end of the hitch beam exerts a pushing force against the corresponding end of the control beam through its corresponding control rod by compressing its spring. The combined pulling force on one side and pushing force on the other side on the control beam causes the control beam and arm to pivot about the central pivotal connection. When the articulated vehicles are moving in a relatively straight line, a very small pivotal and lateral movement of the hitch beam will cause large pivotal movement of the tow bar extension and trailer coupler. When the components are angled sharply from a straight line condition, a large movement of the hitch beam, hitch-ball, and control beam will produce a relatively small pivot movement of the tow bar extension and trailer coupler, proportionately small compared to the vehicle turning angle.
Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to its scope to the details of the construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, in describing the preferred embodiment, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents, which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
The hitch assembly of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and, as illustrated in
The hitch assembly includes a hitch beam 32 extending laterally (i.e., transversely) at the rear of the towing vehicle 12 and rigidly affixed to the frame 16 in a conventional and well-known manner. The hitch beam has a left end 32a and a right end 32b and a first pivot point 33a integrally connected to the left end and a second pivot point 33b integrally connected to the right end. The center of the hitch beam includes a towing vehicle hitch ball 34 to which is connected a an intermediate bar 35 having a forward end 35a and a rearward end 35b. Preferably the intermediate bar comprises a hitch bar 36 having a hitch ball socket 38 at the forward end thereof for universal pivot connection with the hitch ball 34 in a well known manner. A hitch bar extension 40 is detachably connected to the hitch bar 36 by fasteners 42. The hitch bar 36 and the extension 40 may be of unitary construction but the detachable connection 42 enables replacement of parts and possibly adjustment of the components.
As illustrated in
It will be readily appreciated by those with knowledge in the art that besides employing spring-type shock absorption means, control rods 44 could employ several other suitable means of compression and extension, including, but not limited to, viscous damping (dashpot) type shocks, flat viscosity hydraulic fluid shocks, and compressed gas shocks.
Referring now to
Referring again to
The pivotal movement between the trailer coupler 64 and hitch bar extension 40 is controlled by a roller 74. The roller 74 is rotatably journalled on a pin 73 extending rigidly and upwardly from the forward end 70a of arm 70 and through a rotatable sleeve 75 interposed between the upper surface 70b of arm 70 and the lower end of roller 74. The forward end 70a of arm 70 is received within a downwardly opening slot 76 in the rearward end portion of the hitch bar extension 40. The roller 74 is located intermediate the pivot axis defined by the pivot bolt 72 and the pivot connection 66 forming the pivotal connection between the control beam 60 and the trailer coupler 64. Thus, the pivotal movement of the hitch bar extension 40, the trailer coupler 64 and the control beam 60 is controlled by the arm 70 and roller 74 engaged in the slot 76. As shown in
Referring to
The pivot bolt 72 and sleeve 80 maintain the hitch bar extension 40 generally horizontally parallel to the trailer coupler 64 in order to maintain the roller 74 in the slot 76 and maintain the arm 70 parallel to the top wall 88 of trailer coupler 64 and the hitch bar extension 40.
Referring to
Referring to
When the towing vehicle turns, as illustrated in
Thus, when the articulated vehicles are moving in a relatively straight line, a very small pivotal and lateral movement of the hitch beam 32, which correspondingly causes a small pivotal movement of control beam 60, will cause large pivotal movement of the tow bar extension 40 and trailer coupler 64. As illustrated in
However, when the components are in a sharply turned orientation away from a straight line condition, as illustrated in
By using left and right control rods 44L, 44R simultaneously, the hitch assembly 10 will function symmetrically regardless of whether the towing vehicle 12 is turning left or right, and the towed trailer 14 will follow to the left or right equally. Devices in the prior art employ only one control rod on one side, rendering hitch assembly movement asymmetrical in left and right turns. The symmetrically applied control rods 44 improve stability and safety of the towing vehicle and towed trailer.
In another aspect, the inventive trailer hitch assembly can be described as an assembly for articulately connecting a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle, comprising: a hitch beam for attachment to the towing vehicle, the hitch beam having a hitch ball; a control beam having a left end with a left integral pivot point, a right end with a right integral pivot point, and a central portion; an intermediate bar having a forward end and a rearward end and a hitch ball socket at the forward end for connection to the hitch ball for universal pivot connection with the hitch ball; a pair of compressible and extendable control rods with the intermediate bar interposed between them, each of the control rods having a forward end pivotally connected to the hitch beam, and a rear end pivotally connected to the control beam; a trailer coupler having a forward end and a rearward end, said trailer coupler pivotally connected to the intermediate bar and to the central portion of the control beam by a pivotal connecting beam, wherein trailer coupler extends forward and rearward of said control beam, and wherein the rearward end of the trailer coupler is provided with a trailer hitch ball engaged by a trailer socket coupler. In this aspect, when the towing vehicle turns, the control rods compress and extend oppositely but symmetrically, and the control beam, intermediate bar, and pivotal connecting beam cooperatively pivot to moderate and decrease the effect of the turning motion of the towing vehicle on the towed vehicle.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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